Circuit breaker



Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE REINHOLD RUDENBERG, OFBERLIN-GRUNEWALD, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC &MANUFACTUIi-ITG COMPANY, 03? NEW' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OFAMERICA CIRCUIT BREAKER No Drawing. Application filed. September 8,19537, Serial No. 218,372, and in Germany September 10, 1926.

My invention relates to circuit breakers.

For breaking electric circuits, more particularly alternating currentcircuits, the con tact members of the circuit breakers are submergedunder oil or any other suitable liquid, because a large volume of heatis then withdrawn from the final arc, whereby the arc is extinguishedmore easily. In the case where circuits of high power are to bedisconnected, the arcs may become very extensive and develop in alldirections through the conducting gases formed by the decomposition ofthe oil.

My invention relates to a circuit breaker in which the arc is confinedto a very small. space and the breaking of the circuit involves nodanger even when circuits carrying large amounts of power aredisconnected.

My invention consists substantially in adding deionizing substances tothe medium surrounding the breaker contacts. These quickly bind thecurrent-conducting ions and electrons, which are developed in the arcand at the electrodes and thus extinguish the arc.

According to my invention the elements of the halogen series, such aschlorine, bromine and iodine, are preferably employed. In the case ofoil circuit breakers iodine is preferably added as deionizing substance.It is, however, also possible to use, for instance, phosphorous oranalogous substances for deionizing the arc.

The substances specified above may be employed in the pure state or incombination with other substances.

In the case of breakers in which the arc is extinguished in a liquidsuch deionizing substances are preferably chosen which dissolve in theliquid or become finely distributed in it. In air or gas circuitbreakers substances are employed which likewise become finelydistributed. By a suitable choice of the quantity of the substance, thearcs may either be extinguished immediately on being developed orgradually afterwards.

It is a particularly desirable feature that with the increase of thelength of the arc and the decomposition of the breaker medium, forinstance the oil, a larger quantity of the dissolved deionizingsubstances is set free and brings about the blowing out of the arc. Dueto the aid of the ion-binding substances in the gaseous state. it isalso possible to interrupt circuits having considerable capacity in air.substances are present in sufficient quantity at the point where the arcdevelops. The air circuit breaker is preferably housed within a closedcasing or chamber.

lVhen the word deionizin is emvlo ed in t! l the specification andclaims it is to be understood that I have reference to any gas that,when intermingled with the gas in an arc path, will cause the ionsthereof to recombine to thereby render the arc path impervious tocurrent flow.

Various changes in the substances employed and in the way of applyingthem may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, andI desire therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereonas are imposed by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a circuit breaker and iodine mixed with the mediumsurrounding the contact members of said breaker.

2. In combination, a circuit breaker oil surrounding the contactmembers, and iodine mixed with said oil.

3. In combination, a circuit breaker and. an element of the halogenseries in the free state mixed with the medium surrounding the contactsof said breaker.

l. In combination, a circuit breaker and a substance which evolves anelement of the halogen series in the gaseous state under the influenceof an are mixed with the medium surrounding the contacts of saidbreaker.

5. In combination, a circuit breaker, oil surrounding the contactmembers of said breaker. and an element of the halogen series in thefree state mixed with said oil.

6. In combination, a circuit breaker, oil surrounding the contactmembers of said breaker, a substance which evolves an element of thehalogen series in the gaseous state under the influence of an are mixedwith said oil.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

REINHQLD RUDENBERG.

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